AgustaWestland at Aero India 2013

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce it will be showcasing its range of modern high performance military and commercial helicopters at Aero India 2013, which is being held at Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru, from 6th to 10th February. Helicopters being promoted at Aero India include the AW101, twelve of which are now in the process of delivery to the Indian Air Force for government transport duties. Other helicopters to be featured include the AW109LUH light twin-engine military helicopter, the best selling AW139 12-15 passenger medium-twin engine helicopter and the naval variant of the NH90 helicopter.

Geoff Hoon, Managing Director International Business, AgustaWestland said “India is an important and growing market for AgustaWestland, so at Aero India we are promoting the most modern and capable rotorcraft available today, confident that we can build on our past successes and fulfil the future requirements of both the Indian armed forces and commercial customers.”

He added “We will also be using Aero India to help pursue our strategy to expand and develop our relationships with Indian companies to ensure we are a part of India’s growing aerospace industry. Indian Rotorcraft Limited, our joint venture with Tata Sons, is a prime example of this strategy and our long term commitment to India.”

Military Rotorcraft
AgustaWestland has a complete range of maritime helicopters ranging from the three-tonne AW109 right up to the 16-tonne AW101, which can meet all future Indian Navy and Coast Guard requirements.

At 11-tonnes, AgustaWestland is offering the naval variant of the NH90 to the Indian Navy for its new anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopter requirement. The NH90 is the biggest helicopter programme ever launched in Europe, with firm orders for 529 units to equip and modernize 19 services in 14 countries including the Armed Forces of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Oman, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Belgium. Of those 529 firm orders over 100 are for the NFH naval variant for the navies of Italy, France, Norway and The Netherlands.

The Indian Navy’s fleet of Sea King Mk42B helicopters, used for anti-submarine and anti surface warfare, is to undergo a mid-life upgrade programme. AgustaWestland, as the original equipment manufacturer, is bidding for this contract.

Commercial Rotorcraft
In 2005 AgustaWestland sold its first AW109 Power helicopter to the Government of Rajasthan and since then sales of its civil product range have taken-off with orders being placed for nearly 50 aircraft including additional AW109 Powers, the GrandNew light twin-engine helicopter, the AW119Ke and the AW139 medium twin-engine helicopter. AgustaWestland is a worldwide leader in the supply of corporate and VIP helicopters and is the last five years has been the market leader in India with over a 50% share of the commercial helicopter market.